[From Cornell Chronicle] Chatty robots go viral on YouTube By Bill Steele Aug. 31, 2011 An online chat between two robots set up by Cornell students is entertaining the nation. “It was just an afternoon hack,” said Hod Lipson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. “It went viral in 24 hours and took us completely by surprise.” Lipson asked Ph.D. students Igor Labutov and Jason Yosinski to set up the conversation as a demo for his class on artificial intelligence. They chose a Web-based chatbot (a computer program designed to simulate human conversation) called Cleverbot. Anyone can go to…

[From MIT’s Technology Review, where the story includes several more images] [Image: A still from the 18-screen video May 12th 2011 Rudston to Kilham Road 5 PM. Credit: ©David Hockney] The Mind’s Eye Long preoccupied with technology, David Hockney is exploring a new artistic medium that uses high-definition cameras, screens, software, and moving images to capture the experience of seeing. September/October 2011 By Martin Gayford One of your basic contentions, I say to the British artist David Hockney, is that there is always more to be seen, everywhere, all the time. “Yes,” he replies emphatically. “There’s a lot more to…

[From the web site of Latitude] The Future of Gaming: a Portrait of the New Gamers By Kadley Gosselin August 23, 2011 In the spring of 2011, Latitude Research launched a study to understand the recent explosion in gaming, driven in part by the popularity of mobile phones and tablets. Specifically, the study sought to uncover how the profile of the stereotypical gamer has changed, various motivations for gaming, and the evolving role of games in moving traditionally online experiences into the “offline” world—suggesting new opportunities for game and technology developers, educators, and social innovators. As one study participant noted:…

[From Ubergizmo]   iPhone Virtual Reality Viewer Edwin Kee 08/18/2011 The iPhone is one versatile handset, and you can add the iPhone Virtual Reality Viewer to its fast growing list of capabilities. As the name suggests, this device will work in tandem with an iPhone to develop immersive, 3D viewing experiences. Just how does it work? Well, it marries the built-in accelerometer in the iPhone alongside free downloadable applications, allowing the 3D environments within to move whenever the iPhone is moved.…

[From Tom’s Guide] Sony Says Games Will Read Emotions in 10 Years Sony is talking crazy, indicating that games may be able to tell if you’re lying or depressed just ten years down the road. We’ll stick with growing crops, thanks. August 25, 2011 – By Kevin Parrish Seriously, when do games stop being games and cross over into virtual reality? This was the question I asked Nvidia months ago at ECGC 2011, and was told there will always be a market for the high-end PC gamer with the rig nearly the size of a bookcase. But putting visual realism…

[From TechCrunch, where the story includes additional images] Handroid: Japanese Company Shows Advanced Robot Hand (Video) Serkan Toto August 24, 2011 Japan-based tech startup ITK has brought us one step closer to the Robocalypse. Roboticists around the world are working on manufacturing “sensitive” hands for robots suitable for touching humans or handling breakable objects, a problem that’s notoriously difficult to solve. ITK is now throwing their hat into the ring with Handroid a new model that seems to be one of the most advanced robot hands out there. Sporting five fully movable fingers, the Handroid looks a lot like the hand Arnold…